Miami-Dade County Public Schools Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony at John I. Smith K-8 Center

A ceremony was held this morning at John I. Smith K-8 Center to symbolically break ground on a new $5.7 million building addition and renovation project.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Dr. Michael Lewis, School Board member Danny Espino, John I. Smith K-8 Principal Irledia Martinez, Doral Mayor Christi Fraga, Miami-Dade County officials, District representatives, school staff, and students gathered at the Doral school for the event.

M.A.C. Construction, Inc. was awarded the construction contract for the project. When completed, the school will have a new building addition equipped with labs for art, band and computer classes, and a new dining shelter.

Built in Doral in 1995, the existing campus is comprised of eight buildings on a 10-acre parcel of land. The facility has 1,242 student stations which will increase to 1,347 student stations upon completion of this project.

The school bond projects resulted from voter approval of the $1.2 billion General Obligation Bond in 2012. Funds from the bond are being used to modernize and construct school buildings throughout the District, expand student capacity, enhance facility safety, and provide technology upgrades at all schools.

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TOP CAPTION:  Pictured center: School Board member Danny Espino, John I. Smith K-8 Center Principal Irledia Martinez and Chief Facilities Design/Construction Officer Raul F. Perez, are joined by city, county, region officials and students for a ground-breaking ceremony.